New Mercedes SL Is Here

In the past few weeks more and more spyshots of the new Steve-Mobile kept coming up, and now it's finally here. I personally think it's not as pretty as it's predecessor, but it definitely isn't ugly. Although in dimensions it's become wider and longer, it's said that it weighs 140Kgs less than the previous one. For now there will be two models, the 350 and the 500, the 500 being the top model. With a big fat V8 under that big fat hood, it'll hit 60 in under five seconds and the speed is limited to 250 (I always keep wondering why those Germans do that...) It comes with all kinds of new safety systems with tacky names of which you'll be happy that they're there, but I won't bother you with them. It'll be available next year from €93000 onwards, so you better start saving up.

Portable Paper-Hanging

Remember that artsy car in my first post about the Tokyo Motor Show? It's called the Fun-Vii, and I genuinely think Toyota's people were either drunk or redecorating their houses when they designed it. Or both.

The car allows you to choose any picture as its side, making it very customizable. The interior is adaptable as well, with color changing dash, seats, everything.  The sides of the car are made of OLED panels. It's a new feat, based on the technology used in smartphone screens (Like Samsung AMOLED) but a little more advanced. They've made them transparent (!) from the inside, because you don't want to run over anyone's feet while admiring your own car's sides. Also, there is an inbuilt projector for watching movies and playing games on the windshield of your car. Not while driving, of course.

I think it's unbelievable what automotive manufacturers come up with these days. It's like they are fighting for the weirdest designs. (And they probably actually are.) As far as I'm concerned, they're taking this funky car thing a little far but hey, as I said earlier, concept cars are fun regardless of how credible they are. And that is, after all, what the Tokyo Motor show is about. Fun and technology.

Citroën Grand C4 Picasso: Easy Going

As I'm sure that there are not only guys and girls with a craving for sportscars and concepts who come around here, I'll take a little sidestep to review.....wait for it.....a people carrier! 

The C4 Picasso has recently been facelifted, and I must say it's still one of the most stylish MPV's around, on par with the racy Ford S-Max. With its streamlined shape and balanced design it is neither simple nor extravagant, and especially in black it looks pretty good for a people carrier. Too bad I got to drive a silver one.

Just as the exterior, the interior looks nice and balanced. You can choose between a variety of colors, here most parts are white, but for a little extra money Citroën can get you any color you like. A really fun, (but confusing at first) feature is the steering wheel, of which the center stays upright when you turn the ring. One other thing that is really cool is the fact that it comes with a fridge in the center of the dashboard! Unfortunately, that is only the case if you have the version with the automatic EGS gearbox. EGS is a new name for an already outdated system called SensoDrive of which we all know that it sucks, so if you can, try and get the manual one. There's enough room for a portable cooler anyway. The seven seats are both pretty comfortable and ideal for children's parties. Fold five of them down and there's plenty of booze-room for adult's parties. One last thing about the interior: the panorama windshield is downright awesome.

Now let's get behind that funky steering wheel! The way this car feels remembers me of the old Citroëns, it drives like you're sailing it over calm water. Although there's no air-suspension anymore, the ride is buttery smooth. You won't feel the slightest bump, every unevenness is filtered out. That can be nice if that's what you like, but it's definitely not suitable for taking quick corners! For all the commuters and school-moms, I think it's all right. If you're a wannabe racing-driver (like me) you could better try the Ford S-Max, which comes with turbo engines and a sports-chassis. As I said, the C4's automatic gearbox isn't all that good. Every time the car changes gear there is a loss of power, and the front dives down. If you're in rambling traffic this can cause a bumpy ride. Just stick with manual (pun intended) and you'll be good!

If I were a school-mom I'd be a very happy school-mom with this car. It's stylish, features plenty of good options, some unique elements and first and foremost: lots of space. The foldable seats are very handy, and because of the large glass surfaces it feels even more spacious than it is. But, since I'm not a school-mom but a wannabe racing-driver I prefer the S-Max. Conclusion:

• Usual family/commuting usage? Have it.
• You prefer to push the pedal a little more than the rest? Try considering an S-Max.
  

Bridgestone Devises Airless Wheels

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Japanese company Bridgestone has come up with a set of extremely durable tires. They include plastic springs, which suspend the wheel without air being needed. As a result you won't ever have to be afraid of holes in your tires. Think of the possibilities! You'll never get caught in police spike strips, allowing you to vanish into thin air.

"If I had to nitpick, and obviously I do..."

"...than i'd complain about anything offensive said by people on TV." I'm sure, Jeremy Clarkson isn't everyone's favorite TV presenter, mostly because of his offensive remarks. I can understand that, but I think some people need to realize that Top Gear isn't as much a car show as it is plain comedy, and thus, doesn't need to be taken that seriously. 'Cause don't comedians ever make offensive comments? The guys at carbuzz made a nice info-graphic showcasing Jezza's most hated quotes. 

What do you personally think? Are TV-personalities (and especially comedians) allowed to make offensive statements, or should they always keep things reasonable?

How To Skip The Aventador Waiting List

You're a 22 year old Arabian with quite some money to spend. You've got an eye on that new flashy Lamborghini, but there's a waiting list of over 6 months. What do yo do? Well here's wat Dhiaa Al-Essa did: he just voluntarily added $35000 to the bill, which now makes him the first one to own an Aventador in the middle east. Apparently that's how they roll there. So next time when you're in the line for an ice-cream, bare in mind what a little extra money can do!

Daihatsu Pico

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Automotive companies are always on the lookout for new technological feats. Sometimes with very serious and interesting intentions, sometimes just for fun. Not being very active in Europe anymore, it is interesting to see what this brand from the far east (or far far west, just as well) has come up with. In this case, not only the car but also the chance that it'll ever go into production is pico. As you can tell from the picture, this concept car is really in that concept stadium in which they use funky colors and weird designs. I mean, could you imagine this driving on the street right now? No, maybe in twenty years or so.


Nevertheless, what we're looking at here definitely is a funny little concept-car. The most interesting feature is the fact that it has an LED-illuminated bar all around it to interact with pedestrians. Through the use of colors and symbols (no idea what it says, probably something that sounds like sushi), it can warn people around the car that they are walking too closely, or it can illustrate that the car is going at an unsafe rate of speed. The bar turns red then. If all is well, the LED bar will stay green. There's other colours as well for all kinds of situations. The idea is that commuting in a small car in cities like Tokyo, with a lot of pedestrians, will become safer. 

The car has two seats, so you'll be able to take a colleague along to work. There are no seatbelts, but I guess they aren't needed because the top speed isn't much more than that of a scooter. The drive comes from an electric motor, with enough battery for 30 miles of driving. That should be enough in and around the city. There's just one thing that bothers me: they did forget a pair of full doors. But hey, at least it keeps your head cool and that's good for work.

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

The Tokyo Motor Show 2011 is in full effect, and I'm there to witness all the new things companies have come up with. There's lot's of new and crazy stuff, so stay stuned!